Paul Hattaway
Carlisle, UK
There is a tendency today to associate “revival” and miracles with Charismatic churches, but there were none of those in Nagaland when God first brought revival there. These powerful and life-changing visitations came to orderly, conservative Baptist congregations.
As a result, Nagas found their true dignity not in themselves, their ethnic roots, their head-hunting or in the defence of their homeland, but they discovered it in the person and life of Jesus Christ, the Living and one true God. This is a moving story of bravery and betrayal, suffering, persecution, supernatural intervention and subsequent human weakness followed by a keen passion for evangelistic mission to other minority people groups.
Special Features : An inspirational example of how God can transform an entire nation. A personal challenge to continue seeking after God’s blessing
The following is an extract from pp87-89 of From Head-Hunters to Church Planters. It is the account of Hophong, a Yimchung pastor in his 70s, who recalls the time, forty years ago, when revival came to his tribe :
In the latter part of 1976, by the grace of God, revival broke out across many parts of Nagaland. Christians had been marginalized in our society until then, and those who tried to preach the gospel were strongly opposed and persecuted. After God turned up in 1976, everything changed !
In the month of October 1976, there was a meeting in Muntum town. I went to the meeting and experienced the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Before that day we didn’t know anything about revival. Christianity to us was a set of rules and prohibitions. From that day on, Christianity became a living, powerful and intimate relationship with a wonderful Jesus.
When I arrived back home after the revival meeting I was filled with exceeding joy. My friends and family members came to see me, and all remarked that I seemed like a completely different person. That was true. Anyone who truly comes face to face with the Lord Jesus Christ will never be the same again.
When I preached in our church my message was altogether different than before. Now it came with great power and authority from the Holy Spirit. Many people were touched by the Lord and repented of their sins, but others were confused and opposed me. I found out then that during revival there is always great spiritual opposition. Those people who are willing to change their hearts and get off the roadway to death will be transformed, but those religious people who refuse to change and who strive to maintain the status quo soon become enemies of the revival—and the enemies of the people who advocate it.
I was threatened with excommunication from the church, and also told I would lose my job if I didn’t stop preaching like I did. It was so strange to me because what had happened to me was not an act, or something I made up. Even my own brothers and sisters started hating me. When I visited their home they refused to offer me a cup of tea. On one occasion a man even came with a spear to kill me. I was beaten, but the Lord prevented him from ending my life.
I thank God that my wife and children continued to support me. Together we lifted up our hands and prayed for those who were opposing us.
I was banned from preaching, not only in our village church but also in surrounding villages that had previously welcomed me. Church leaders and village leaders slandered me and did all they could to drive me away. But we stayed and continued to trust in the Lord. When they locked the door of the church so I couldn’t get inside, I just stood outside the door and prayed and worshipped the Lord with tears in my eyes.
Then the Lord started to work in wonderful ways. In a nearby village lived a seven-year-old boy with a terminal illness. When I prayed for him the Lord instantly healed him. Other miracles started taking place and many of the people who had opposed me now came and asked forgiveness.
I started holding evening Bible studies and many people came, believed in the Lord and were baptized. Suddenly the name of the Lord was prospering and the revival fire spread rapidly. By 1979 God had done such a great work that more than one thousand Yimchung people were baptized in a single day.
During the most intense times of the revival people would cry out and confess their sins in great anguish. They just had to get right with God as their pain and burden of sin was so great that another minute away from the embrace of Jesus Christ was too much for them to bear. Many times people fell to the ground under the power of the Holy Spirit. Others were prostrated and could not move. In each meeting people were shouting their sins to the Lord, all at the same time. They didn’t care what the person next to them was doing — all that mattered was that people’s hearts were surrendered to God.
ASSIST News Service
